August 25, 2016 marks the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service and to commemorate the occasion, we're looking back at the effort to protect the California desert, which resulted in three new national monuments.

Land, Water y Comunidad explores the relationship Latinos across the nation have with Land and Water Conservation Fund sites – what it means to them, how they enjoy them and the impact it would have if these lands weren’t available.

Yesterday, Hispanic Access Foundation held a webinar briefing with experts on wildfires, drought, extreme heat, health, occupational safety, and our nation’s public lands to release a new conservation toolkit “A Guide to Land, Water and Climate Issues and the Impact on Latino Communities.” The toolkit explores issues around public lands, air, water and climate, and identifies the health, economic and cultural impact on Latino communities.

“Latinos are changing the face of conservation leading it to be more reflective of our nation’s communities. As they become leaders in this movement, they are creating solutions that represent the needs of their communities,” said Maite Arce, president and CEO of Hispanic Access Foundation. “With the growing electoral power that this community is just beginning to harness, you have a political force that has the potential to shift the balance on conservation issues.”

The focus on our climate is ramping up within the Latino community. Climate change is leading to higher temperatures and record-setting heat waves, drier and more arid conditions in the Southwest, and more frequent and severe droughts. These conditions are having troubling consequences on public health and access to services, job security and economic productivity.

Following the release of American River’s report America's Most Endangered Rivers® of 2019 in which New Mexico’s Gila River was ranked #1 due to a proposed water diversion project that would tax the already threatened waterway, Maite Arce, president and CEO of Hispanic Access Foundation, released the following statement:

On Tuesday, Apr. 16, President Trump signed a law authorizing the Drought Contingency Plan (DCP) to protect the Colorado River, following the bill’s passage through Congress with bipartisan support. The law, which follows years of negotiations and effort among the seven Colorado River basin states — California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming — reduces each state’s river use as a way to protect against catastrophic water shortages in Lake Mead. Now, that the DCP has been signed into law, the U.S. and Mexico will have approximately 100 days to work on their international version of the DCP, called the Binational Water Scarcity Plan, also known as Minute 323.

On Sunday, Apr. 28, Hispanic Access Foundation, Inland Empire Resource Conservation District, San Bernardino County Special Districts, Supervisor Rutherford’s Office, Rancho Cucamonga Foothill Preservation Alliance and Por la Creación Faith-based Alliance took 40 congregation members from Fontana de la Esperanza SDA Church to the North Etiwanda Preserve for an educational and interactive hike. This was an opportunity to celebrate the preserve’s anniversary of becoming a protected public land and to witness the importance of protecting our cultural and outdoor heritage.

Fabiola Torres is a young Puerto Rican who at an early age learned from her family to love the great outdoors. Nowadays, she is an enthusiastic nature advocate that works to engage the Latino community in conservation initiatives.

While California is known for its incredible natural diversity and majestic public lands, the San Gabriel Mountains play a vital role in our economy, recreation and relaxation. The recreational “backyard” for more than 17 million southern Californians, the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument is also the source of one-third of Los Angeles County’s drinking water.

As an American evangelical Christian leader and a strong advocate of our public lands, I am pleased to see our Congress taking charge of the environmental and conservation challenges we are facing and acting to protect our sacred public lands.